Midweek Reviews

Love, Africa: a Memoir of Romance, War and Survival

By Jeffrey Gettleman

4 stars

Jeffrey Gettleman has served as the New York Times East Africa correspondent for almost a decade.  During that time he has covered war, famine, dirty elections and disease.  This memoir covers his start as a journalist and his long time obsession with East Africa.  He gives a nuanced overview of the issues faced by the continent, the irresponsible way the U.S. interferes and the lasting effects of colonialism while also detailing his long, complicated romance with his wife.  As a person, he is not always likable (something he admits to several times) but as a writer on Africa, he is spot on.  I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 

Give a Girl a Knife by Amy Thielen

3.5 stars

Amy Thielen grew up in northern Minnesota with a mother who took pride in her culinary skills.  Later as the author rotated through the kitchens of some of New York City’s finest restaurants, she reflected often on the Midwestern foods of her youth.  I thought it extremely interesting that regions can have culinary traditions so imbedded that we often don’t consider them until we leave that region.  This memoir often skips around in time and could have been shortened due to repetitions, but overall this is a wonderful tribute to the food we grow up eating.  I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.